The Grid Reboot: Part 2

Written by Ken Lulow

The Smart Grid Squad

Last time, we broke down why the grid, this aging beast we all rely on, is due for a serious upgrade. It’s stretched thin, beat up by wild weather, and overloaded with shiny new gear like EV chargers and solar panels. So how do we take “the most complicated machine ever built” and make it smarter, tougher, and faster?

We roll in the heavy hitters, the tech MVPs of grid modernization.

Let’s meet the high-tech squad that’s quietly turning this beast into a brainy, battle-ready system.

The Grid’s New Eyes

Imagine trying to run a crew blindfolded with no radio. That’s what managing the old grid felt like.

Enter AMI, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, aka smart meters and the comms network behind them. These digital meters don’t just spin, they talk back. Real-time data. Instant outage alerts. Remote connect/disconnects. It’s like upgrading from a smoke signal to a satellite phone.

But that’s not all, out in the field, PMUs (Phasor Measurement Units) and other sensors are watching every twitch in voltage and current like hawks. These things are lightning fast, picking up disturbances in milliseconds. That gives operators a heads-up before things go sideways.

Why it matters:
Power outages can be spotted and fixed faster. Grid stress gets flagged early. Line crews roll with precision, not guesswork.

The Grid’s Muscles

Now that we can see what’s going on, let’s talk about what can actually do something about it.

Meet DA (Distribution Automation), automated switches, reclosers, and sectionalizers. These aren’t your granddad’s cutouts. They’re smart, fast, and sometimes even self-operating.

Think of DA as a crew that’s already out there, working 24/7, ready to isolate faults, reroute power, and restore service in seconds, without anyone picking up the phone.

Why it matters:
A tree limb hits a line, faults the line, power goes out…. DA kicks in, isolates the faulted line and reroutes power before your coffee cools off. It’s not just faster restoration, it’s smarter, safer, and keeps more meters on.

The Nervous System

You’ve got the eyes. You’ve got the muscles. But without a solid nervous system, nothing moves.

That’s where high-speed communication networks come in, fiber optics, RF mesh, cellular, even satellite. It’s how data flows from sensors to control centers and back out to the field.

No comms? No coordination. No grid visibility. No remote control. Just chaos.

Why it matters:
Every alert, every reading, every command depends on this network. And with cyber threats becoming more real than ever, these comms aren’t just fast, they must be armored and secure.

The Brains

The last piece? The brains of the operation.

You can have all the best field gear in the world, but it’s useless without the software pulling the strings.

ADMS (Advanced Distribution Management System) is like grid traffic control. It crunches all the data from your smart meters and sensors and gives operators a clear, unified view of the battlefield. It can locate faults, reroute power, optimize voltage, and more.

DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management System) is its partner in crime. As solar panels, batteries, and EVs flood the grid, DERMS keeps them from causing mayhem. It helps utilities manage and even leverage these resources as if they were one big, flexible power plant.

Why it matters:
Reduced blind dispatching. Less chaos when clouds roll in or cars start charging. Flexibility to work on the grid without guessing how the system will respond. Just smooth, orchestrated control.

The Big Picture

It’s not about gadgets. It’s about Accountability. Reliability. Safety. Smarter planning. Less waste. Fewer outages. Faster restorations. Lower costs. Cleaner power.

Every one of these technologies works best when they work together. It’s a full upgrade, like going from a flip phone to a fully loaded smartphone... except modern day life depends on it.

Next Up…

Now that you’ve met the tech team, we’ll show you what it means on the ground. From wildfire prevention to blackout avoidance to building a cleaner future, this isn’t just tech for tech’s sake.

It’s boots-on-the-ground, lights-stay-on, future-proofing the job we all depend on.

Stay tuned for part 3…